Electrical interlocking mechanism.



J. L. SGHUREMAN. ELECTRICAL INTERLOGKING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.21, 1908.

1,071,807, Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETBSHEET l.

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J. L. SOHUREMAN.

ELECTRICAL INTERLOCKING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

g- M j== UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB L. SCHUREMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ACORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRICAL INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

Application filed August 21, 1908.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Jaoon L. SGHUREMAN, a citizenof the Unit-ed States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of trolledresistance, or a series thereof, until.

the resistance, when but one is used, or all or a part of the saidresistances, when more than one is used, have been cut into the circuit,thereby to prevent overload upon the electrical apparatus in circuitwith the resistance or resistances.

My object is to provide a novel and simple form of interlock for theabove stated purpose of the mechanically operated type, to the end ofrendering positive the interlocking of the circuit-closing switch.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face View of anelectrical starting apparatus illustrating my invention in connectiontherewith, the form of 'ap paratus shown being of a well-known typecomprising a main line switch, and accelerated switches for controllingthe series of resistance groups; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sec tion taken atline 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, illustratingthe normal position of the accelerating switch adapted to be firstoperated for cutting out the resistances; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectiontaken at the line 3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow,and Fig. at is a section taken at the line i on Fig. 1 and viewed in thedirection of the arrow.

In the oarticular apparatus for controlling gradual cutting out ofresistances in a circuit to be supplied including a motor or otherelectrical device, in connection with which apparatus I have chosen toillustrate my invention, the supporting part, or plate, is indicated at5, and as is usual in constructions of this kind, is intended to besecured on a support to extend in upright position. Mounted on the faceof this plate is a series of subsidiary switches 6, 7 and 8, which maybe of any suitable construction, those illustrated each comprising abracket Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Serial No. 449,581.

9 secured to the plate 5 as by bolts 10 and provided with spaced arms11; an arm 12 in the nature of a bell-crank lever fulcrumed near itsangle as indicated at 13, to the arms 11 of the bracket 9; a pair ofcarbon electrodes 14 slidably confined in the slotted upper end-portionof the arm 12 and each yieldingly pressed in a rearward direction by aspring 15; a link sect-ion16 pivoted near its upper end as indicated at17, to the short arm 18 of the bell crank 12 and having its lower endexpanded and recessed as illustrated to provide a shoulder 19 andclearances for a shaft hereinafter described; and a block 20 secured tothe plate 5, as by bolts 21, immediately below the switch in a positionadapting it to be engaged by a finger 22 carried by the link 16 at itslower end.

Secured to the front of the plate 5 are contacts 23 to 28 inclusive,which are arranged in two horizontal series, as represented, to beengaged by the respective pairs of electrodes carried by the switches 6,7 and 8, these contacts having plates 29 to 34 inclusive, respectively,to which bindingpcsts (not shown) may be connected.

The means illustrated in the apparatus shown for producing operation ofthe switches 6, 7 and 8 in succession, comprises a shaft 35 journaled inbearings 36, 36 to extend through the recesses in the lower eX- pandedportions of the link sections 16, this shaft carrying a series ofcrank-pins 37, 38 and 39 spaced apart and each occupying a differentposition about the circumference of the shaft, as represented in Fig. 1.These crank-pins are so arranged on the shaft- 35 as to causethe pin 37to rest normally against the shoulder'19 carried by the link sect-ion16of the switch 6; the pin 38 to be spaced a slight distance away from theshoulder- 19 of the switch 7; and the pin 39 to extend still fartheraway from the shoulder 19 of the switch 8, so that when the shaft 35 isturned, as hereinafter described, it will cause the switches 6, 7 and 8to be successively operated to closed position and thereby successivelycut out portions of the resistances controlled thereby, as is wellunderstood in the art.

The means for rotating the shaft 35 are of the electrically-controlledsolenoid type comprising a coil 40 adapted to be energized in anysuitable manner, and a core 41 op crating in the coil 40 and inadash-pot 42. The core may operatively engage the shaft 35, to rotateit, in any suitable manner, as

for instance by 1'ackand-pinion connection,

as is well known in the art, whereby when i the core is drawn up intothe coil, when the latter is energized, the .shaft 35 will he;

turned in its journals 36.

Secured t0 the front side of the plate is a main line switch l3comprising two spaced arms 4%, ll of general bell crank shape fulcrumedon bra'cl'rets l5 carried the plate 5; an electrode 46 slidingly mountedin the upper free end of each arm ll and 1 yieldingly pressed rcarwardlyby a spring: 47; a yolre shaped frame member 48 jo-urnaled on a shaft459 secured to the plate 5 the shaft 49; an arm extending centrally 5from the yoke 48; and an arm 56 pivotally;

connected with the outer end of the arm 55 as indicated at '57, andconnected at its uppe-ri end with the core '58 of the solenoid 59.

The electrodes 46 are designed to be movedff into and out of engagementwith contactsi (one only of which is shown), secu-rcdi iOI' other devicein the circuit and thus overload, with the well known disastrous reonthe front side of the board 5. In the operation of the apparatusdescribed, assuming the parts to be in the normal position asillustrated in the draw-- ings, a current caused to pass through thecoil of the solenoid 59 energizes it, thereby drawing up the core 58 andarm 56, with the result of moving the electrodes 46 into engagement withthe opposed contacts 60 and closing the circuit through the coil 49 andthe resistance groups (not shown) controlled by the switches 6, 7 and8.7 The effect of thus causing current to pass through the coils l0energizes it thereby drawing up'the core 41 with the result of rotatingthe shaft 35 and successively throwing in the switches 6, 7 and'8 byreason of the engagement of the crank-pins 3'7, 38 and 39 with theshoulders 19 on the respective switches, and successively cutting outthe resistances controlled thereby, thus producing acceleration of theelectric-motor or other device in the In the normal i I i f 74 1ssec-ured, th1s rod 74, when the member circuit with the resistances.open condition of the switches 6, 7 and 8,

the respective fingers 22 carried thereby are caused to bear againstsurfaces 61 on the blocks 20, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

with a surface '62 on the bloclc, and thus The en- 3 ga-gement of thecrank-pins with the shoulders 19 of the respective switches causes the llatter to be closed with the result of carryafter the crank-pins haveleft the shoulders with which they engage, the switch is prevented fromdropping open. As means for preventing the accidental dropping out ofthe switches or manual openingthereof, I provide interlocking fingers 63on the shaft 35, one of each of these fingers being disposed at .a pointdiametrically opposite to each crank-pin 37, 38 and .39. 'Thus by theshaft 35, under the weight of the core 41,

turns in the opposite direction, thereby causing the cranks"37,-38 and'39 to successively throw the last referred to switches to open positionand successively cut into circuit the various resistance-groupscontrolled thereby. It is manifest that this operation of returning theswitches to normal condition in which all of the resistances cont-rolledthereby are cut into circuit, is

relatively slow, and thus if the main line switch after heing opened isagain closed before all of the switches 6, 7 and 8 have been returned tonormal position, it will cause a rush of current through the motorsults. To prevent the occurrence of over loading as described, I providean interloclc i-ng device adapted to be controlled by the operation ofthe shaft for preventing the main "line switch from being operated toclose it when any of the switches t 7 and 8 are closed, the constructionof which is as follows.

Journal ed in r-earwardly extending bearings 65, 65 on the rear side ofthe plate 5 is a yoke-shaped rocking member 66, the v free enterrod-ends '67 and =68 of which extend through elongated relatively largeopenings 69in the plate 5. The member 66 is so positioned as to causethe extreme outer end-portion of the rod 67 to normally bear, under theinfluence of a spring 79, against the 'face of a cam 71 carried on adisk 72 on the shaft 35. The rod-end 68 has a sleeve '73 of insulatingmaterial secured to it in the outer end-portion of which a rod 66 is innormal position as described, extending to one side of the adjacentswitch arm 44 and thus out of its path of movement. Thus the normalposition of the member 66 is that in which its end-portion 67 restsagainst the cam 71 and the rod 74 is out of the path of movement of theadjaccnt switch arm 4d.

When the main line switch 43 is closed as described, the shaft 35immediately commences to turn to the left in Fig. 2, thereby the switch6, the cam has been turned out of engagement with the rod-end 67 of themember 66 and the latter, under the influence of the spring 70, therebyturns in its bearing to a position in which its rod 74 yieldingly bearsagainst the side of the adjacent switch arm 44, the member 66 remainingthus spring-pressed so long as the cam 71 is out of engagement with therod end 67 Thus when the main line switch L3 is opened to break thecircuit through the switches 6, 7 and 8 and the solenoid-coil 40, thearms 44 of the main line switch swing out sufficiently far to permit therod 74 to swing to a position immediately under it, under the influenceof the spring 70. The effect of this operation is to prevent the switch43 from again being closed until the shaft 35 has turned to the right inFig. 2 to a position in which the cam 71 again engages with the end 67of the member 66 for moving the latter against the tension of its spring7 0 and swinging the rod 74 out of the path of movement of the adjacentswitch arm 44, this last referred to operation not taking place untilall the switches 6, 7 and 8 have been opened.

It will thus bereadily apparent that by so constructing the interlockingdevice its operation is rendered positive and reliable in preventing theclosing of the circuit through the motor or other electrical deviceinterposed in the circuit controlled by theswitches 6, 7 and 8, untilall of the resistances are interposed in the circuit.

lVhile I have illustrated and described my invention as embodied in astarting device, the resistance-controlling switches of which areoperated through the medium of a rotary shaft carrying cranks, I do notwish to be understood as limiting my invention to its use in connectionwith an apparatus in which said switches are operated in this manner, asany other suitable means may be employed for effecting the operation ofthe resistance-controlling switches. It is also to be understood that myinvention is applicable to an apparatus in which but one switchcontrolling a resistance is employed or in which any other suitablenumber than that illustrated and described can be used, depending on thenumber of resistances to be controlled.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.-

1. In combination with an electricallyoperated main-line switch, aseries of subsidiary switches, and electrical means for operating thesubsidiary switches in succession, of a mechanical interlocking deviceconstructed and arranged to prevent the operation of said main lineswitch to close it while a predetermined number of said subsidiaryswitches are closed.

2. In combination with a main-line switch, a subsidiary switch, a rotaryshaft, means on said shaft for operating said subsidiary switch, andmeans for rotating said shaft, of an interlocking device operatedthrough the medium of said shaft and constructed and arranged to preventthe operation of said main line switch to close it while said subsidiaryswitch is closed.

3. In combination with a main-line switch, a subsidiary switch,and amovable member carrying means for engaging the subsidiary switch, whenthe member is moved,

for closing said subsidiary switch, of an interlocking deviceconstructed and arranged when actuated to prevent the operation of saidmain line switch to close it while said subsidiary switch isclosed,andcam mechanism carried by said movable member and engaging with saidinterlockinggdevice, for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with a main-line switch, a subsidiary switch, and amovable member carrying means for engaging with the subsidiary switch,when said member is operated, of an interlocking device normallyextending out of the path of said main-line switch and constructed andar ranged to be moved into interlocking position through the medium ofsaid movable member when said subsidiary switch is closed.

5. In combination with a main-line switch, a subsidiary switch, and amovable member carrying means for engaging the subsidiary switch tooperate it when said mem her is moved, of an interlocking device mountedin a manner permitting it to be rocked and constructed and arranged tobe operated through the medium of said movable member to prevent theoperation of said main-line switch to close it when said subsidiaryswitch is closed.

6. In combination with a main-line switch, a subsidiary switch, and amovable member carrying means for operatively engaging said subsidiaryswitch to close it when said member is moved, of an interlocking devicefor the main-line switch constructed and arranged to be held out ofinterlocking engagement with said main-line switch when said movablemember occupies a position in which said subsidiary switch is open andto be moved into interlocking position when said movable member is movedto close said subsidiary switch.

7. The combination of a main-line switch, a subsidiary switch, a rotaryshaft, means on said shaft for operating said subsidiary switch, meansfor rotating said shaft, a main-line switch interlocking device constructed and arranged to be moved into and out of switch-interlockingposition, and

means on said shaft constructed and arranged to cause said interlockingdevice to be out of interlocking engagement when said shaft is in aposition. in which said subsidiary switch is open, and to move saidinterlocking device into interlocking position when the shaft operatedto close said last referred to switch. v e I The combination of :amain-line switch,

subsidiary switch, a rotary shaft, means on said shaft for operatingsaid subsidiary switch, means for rotating the shaft, .a cam on said shaft, and an interlocking device for said main-line switch constructedand arrange to be engaged by said cam for holding it outaoflockingposition when said subsidiary switch is iopen, and to be moved to"locking position when said last referred to switch is closed.

"9, The combination of a main-l-ineswitch 'a subsidiary switch, a rotaryshaft, means on said shaft for operating said subsidiary switch, aninterlocking device comprising a rocking member adapted to be engaged atone end for-moving its other end into'an-d out of interlocking position,and means operated by said shaft for controlling the operation of saidinterlocking device, for. ,the purpose set forth.

move said interlockingdevice into a posi tion in which it engages withsaid maincarried by said shaft constructed and arranged to hold saidinterlocking .devlce out line switch for holding it open, and means oflocking engagement with said main-line switch when said shaft is in aposition which said subsidiary switch is open and; permit saidinterlocking device to be moved i to locking position when the shaft isin a position in which the said subsidiary switch is closed.

l1. The combination of a main-line;

switch, a subsidiary switch, a rotary shaft, means :on said shaft foroperating said subsidia-ry switch, means for rotating said j shaft, aninterlocking device comprising a f two-armed member, one of which farmseX- tends ad acent :to said shaft and the other adjacent to saidmain-line switch, means tending to move said interlocking device; rnto aposition in which one of its armsj interlocks with said main-lineswitch, and a shoulder on said shaft constructed and arranged to holdsaid main-line-switch-engag- 5 ing arm out of interlocking position whenthe shaft is in a position which said subsidiary switch is open, and topermit said last referred to arm to be moved into interlocking positionwhen said subsidiary switch is closed. 7

12. The combination of a main-line switch, a subsidiary switch, a rotaryshaft, means on said shaft for operating said subsidiary switch, meansfor rotating said shaft, a yoke-shaped member constructed and arrangedto be rocked, to move into and out of locking engagement with saidmainline switch, means tending normally to move said interlocking deviceintolocking position with said main-line switch, and means on said shaftconstructed and arranged to cause said interlocking device to be out ofengagement with said main-line switch when the shaft is in a position inwhich said subsidiary switch is open, and to permit said interlockingdevice to be moved into interlocking position when said last refer-redto switch is closed.

13. In combination, an electro-responsive main switch, anelectro-responsive subsidiary switch arranged substantially parallelthereto, and a mechanical interlock between said switches necessitatingopening of said subsidiary switch prior to closure of said main switchbut permitting said main switch :to open regardless of the position of 5said subsidiary switch. I I

ll. Incombination, a supporting panel, a main switch, and a subsidiaryswitch mounted upon said panel andmovable in substantially parallelplanes, and an interlocking device mounted on the rear of said panel andhaving portions projecting theretlrrough, said interlocking device beingcontrolled. by said subsidiary switch to necessitate opening of the sameprior to closure 5 of said main switch.

, 15, In combination, a main switch, a rheostat-operating member, aninterlocking device normally biased to a position to prevent closureofsaid main switch, and a rev-oluble cam movable with saidrheostat-opcrating member for operating said interlocking device topermit closure of said main switch, but necessitating the return .ofsaid operating member to full off position prior thereto.

16. In combination, a main line switch, a subsidiary switch, aninterlocking device biased to a position in the path of said main switchto prevent closure thereof, and a revoluble cam movable with saidsubsidiary switch for moving said device out of the path 'of said mainswitch when said subsidiary switch is opened. V

17. In combination, a main line switch, a controlling device having aplurality of switch membersi-nterlocked to operate in a definitesequence, and a mechanical interlock between said main switch and one ofsaid switch members for necessitating opening of the latter prior toclosure of the former.

18. In combination, an electro-responsive main line switch, anelectromagnetically-operated controlling device having a plurality ofswitch-members arranged to be operated in a definite sequence, and amechanical interlocking device controlled by said controlling device fornecessitating opening of a predetermined number of said switch- 10members prior to the closure of said main Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,Washington, D. G.

